Skip Link Text

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s second largest national park and protected area covering over 1,978 km2, with the great Rwenzori Mountains towering in its background. The park is adjoined by lakes Edward and George, blend with spectacular craters, rolling savannas and humid forests supporting enormous population of wildlife. It is a popular tourist destination situated close to Semliki, Kibale Forest and Rwenzori National Parks found just about 6-7 hour drive from Kampala city.

The park was renamed Queen Elizabeth National Park in 1954 to commemorate the visit by Queen Elizabeth II, from the initial Kazinga National Park; a name it acquired in 1952 when it was founded.

It is located in the western part of the country, forming part of the remarkable western tourism circuit. The park enjoys a wonderful Rift Valley location, positioned at the base of the “Mountains of the Moon” the Rwenzori between lakes Edward and George. Queen Elizabeth national park is undeniably a miscellany of beauty, its magnificent panoramas include oodles of enormous craters carved dramatically into undulating green hills, panoramic sights of the Mweya Peninsular and Kazinga Channel a 32km waterway crammed with wildlife.

Queen Elizabeth conservation area covers Kigezi wildlife reserve in the south, Kyambura in the Northeast, as well as Maramagambo and Kalinzu Forests which offer birding and primate tracking opportunities to visitors in the park. The Ishasha region in the south is known for its tree climbing Lions rarely seen, but spotted lying in tree branches. The national park is also another spot for the line Latitude 00; the Equator.

Fauna in the park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for its checklist of more than 600 bird species, making it classified as an Important Birding Area (IBA) by Birding International and this figure is the highest of any East African National Park. Queen Elizabeth is at the confluence of the Central African forests and the East African savannas making it ideal to spot both the East and Central African species.

Its impressive bird list includes species like the; Greater and Lesser Flamingos in Kyambura, Martial Eagles, Kingfishers, Papyrus Canary, African Skimmer, Papyrus Gonolek, Corncrake, Pink-backed Pelicans, White-winged Warbler, Black-rumped Buttonquail, African Paradise Flycatcher, Shoebill Stork, and Crowned Hornbill among others. Queen Elizabeth brags of its long list of over 95 mammal species including the; African Elephants, Cape Buffalos, giant Forest Hog, Waterbuck, Hyenas, Leopard, Uganda Kobs, Warthog and Lions among others.

Flora in the park

Queen Elizabeth national park’s diverse eco-system, characterized by rolling savanna plains, sparkling craters and fresh water lakes, fertile wetlands and humid forests not only make it a prime birding site, but also an ideal and classic big game viewing site.

Ten primate species such as Chimpanzees and Olive Baboons among others tucked in the forest canopies of Kalinzu and Kyambura Gorge can be discovered on Nature walks. The park’s forest ecosystem with other sites like Maramagambo make it an ideal residence for variety of forest species. Its vegetation is composed of forest, grassland, busy thickets/grassland, swamp vegetation and Acacia woodland.

Accessibility

From Kampala City, Queen Elizabeth national park can be accessed through two main routes. The southern route via Mbarara town and Bushenyi leads to the centre of the park, covering over 420km a journey that is approximately 7 hours. This route passes via the Equator-00 latitude, Lake Mburo National Park and Igongo Cultural centre/museum and therefore; visitors can enjoy short tours en-route.

The second route via Fort Portal leads to Queen Elizabeth through the northern section and also takes approximately 7 hours with a distance of over 410km. This route rewards you with backdrop sights of the Rwenzori Mountains and visitors can also have short tours to the Ndali-Kasende crater field and Kibale Forest known for its diversity of Primates including Chimpanzees.

Alternatively, Queen Elizabeth can be accessed using a domestic charter or scheduled flight from Kajjansi Airfield or Entebbe, to Kasese, Mweya or Ishasha airstrips, rewarding one with scenic views of Uganda from above.

Things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park

  • Safari game drives
  • Balloon safaris
  • Bird watching
  • Chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu and Kyambura
  • Launch cruises on Kazinga channel
  • Cultural encounters
  • Nature walks

 

Safaris to Explore Queen Elizabeth

3 Days Wildlife viewing & Culture at Igongo Museum

5 Days Game viewing and Gorilla tracking

8 Days Uganda Wildlife vacation

8 Days Game viewing & Primate tracking

11 Days Bird watching Glamour

12 Days Pearl of Africa Wildlife & Adventure


Other pages

 Murchison Falls National Park
At a size of 3,893 km2, Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s premier destination for Game tracking safaris. It is the country’s largest conservation area protecting variety of wildlife and it’s named after the Nile’s 40 meter drop over the Rift Valley scarp. The park is ....
 Kidepo Valley National Park
This national park is Uganda’s most alluring tourist destination and protected area. It is one Uganda’s most decorated park with a number of International Accolades attributed to its beauty and untamed wilderness for example; in August 2018, CNN ranked the Park the se ....
 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Though it’s one of Uganda’s smallest park, Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park brags about its identity as a world class tourist destination, sought after by travellers and other African holiday makers because of its prestigious heritage. The national park is located in th ....
 Kibale Forest National Park
The 795Km2, Kibale Forest national park boasts the greatest primate range and density in East Africa making it a primatologist dream destination regarded as the “World’s Primate Capital” famous for Chimpanzee tracking safaris. Before becoming a national park, Kibale was first a gov ....
 Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon National Park is one of Uganda’s other site for mountaineering, trekking/ climbing and adventure Uganda safaris. Situated ideally in the eastern part of the country near Mbale and Kapchorwa area and on the western Kenyan border, Mount Elgon at 4000 km2 has the largest volcanic ....
 Semuliki National Park
Semliki National Park Uganda is such a flawless destination with a huge appeal especially for birders. At a size of 220 Square Kilometers, and an altitude of 670-760 meters above sea level, it was first gazetted as a forest reserve in 1932 and uplifted to a national park status in 1993. It is locate ....
 Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National park is a destination offering preternatural challenge to enthusiastic mountaineers. The Rwenzori Mountains also known as the “Mountains of the Moon”, named so by Alexandrine photographer; Ptolemy, are snow-capped peaks. The Rwenzori’s are known for offe ....
 Lake Mburo National Park
At just about 370 Km2, Lake Mburo National Park is one of Uganda’s smallest park, composed of astounding diversity of flora and fauna, with unique mammals and avian species found nowhere else in the country. Lake Mburo enjoys the closest location to Kampala city, lying just about 4hours in wes ....
 Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a jewel seated high in the clouds, at an altitudinal range of 2,227 meters and 4,127 meters. The temperature range of Mgahinga gorilla national park during the day is 150C while the nights become a little colder at 100C. The park experiences two dry spells, May-Augu ....

General information


 About Uganda

 Mountain Gorilla

 Gorilla Habituation Experience

 Birdwatching Uganda Safari

 Birdwatching Tips

 Travel Info

 Privacy policy

 Terms and conditions





QUICK LINKS

CONTACT INFORMATION

Avens Travel world

Address: Kira house (Former Collines House), opposite NIC building

Room: 24, Pilkington Rd

P.O.Box: 28070, Kampala-Uganda

Phone: +256 779 698998,

Phone: +256 754 054029

WhatsApp: +256 773 148649

Email: info@avenstravelworld.com
QUICK FEED BACK

NAME


EMAIL


MESSAGE


Type 4321 in the box below


LIKE OUR PAGE



View our Terms and Conditions (T&C)

WebAdmin | WebMail

© COPYRIGHT 2024, AVENS TRAVEL WORLD
TRAVEL BOOKING FORM
Surname*
Other names*
Nationality*
Email*
Phone number*
Organization
Origin
Destination
Depature date
Return date
Adults
Children
Infants
Ticket type
Service/Request
Enter 4321 in the box below

TOUR BOOKING FORM
Surname*
Other names*
Nationality*
Email*
Phone number*
Travel/trip date
Number of days
Number of adults
Number of children
Accommodation level
Interests







Comment/request
Enter 4321 in the box below